Purple Sandpiper viewing ethics
243 views
Skip to first unread message
Duane Nelson
Dec 20, 2016, 6:41:17 PM12/20/16
to cob...@googlegroups.com
Birders,
I hate to bring this up, but I know I'm not the only person thinking
this. Every day, people seem to be edging closer and closer to the
Purple Sandpiper at Lake Dillon. I think the welfare of this bird should
come before the "money shot" photograph. We should all feel fortunate
just to witness this special visitor. We, as birders, are under the
scrutiny of a much larger audience, and I want us to surpass
expectations for our exemplary behavior. I beg that people stand back,
let the bird forage with a little space, and remain here as long as it
chooses. If it's flushed, where else can it go?
I know a little about allowing people to observe rare birds from an
appropriate distance and for an appropriate duration. I don't know what
I can do about the Purple Sandpiper, but I'm thinking I'd better
consider the implications of reporting mega rarities in my neck of the
woods.
Respectfully,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
I hate to bring this up, but I know I'm not the only person thinking
this. Every day, people seem to be edging closer and closer to the
Purple Sandpiper at Lake Dillon. I think the welfare of this bird should
come before the "money shot" photograph. We should all feel fortunate
just to witness this special visitor. We, as birders, are under the
scrutiny of a much larger audience, and I want us to surpass
expectations for our exemplary behavior. I beg that people stand back,
let the bird forage with a little space, and remain here as long as it
chooses. If it's flushed, where else can it go?
I know a little about allowing people to observe rare birds from an
appropriate distance and for an appropriate duration. I don't know what
I can do about the Purple Sandpiper, but I'm thinking I'd better
consider the implications of reporting mega rarities in my neck of the
woods.
Respectfully,
Duane Nelson
Las Animas, Bent County, CO
Daniel Maynard
Dec 20, 2016, 7:10:20 PM12/20/16
to Duane Nelson, CoBirds
Interestingly, the best place to see this awesome bird when I was there was up high on the "trail" the first few observers had made right along Highway 9. When I tromped out through the post holes down low to get slightly closer, hoping for a better view, I found the bird was often blocked from view by the snow banks on the nearest shore. In order to get close enough to make that view work, I would have had to walk right up on the bird, and I wasn't about to risk spoiling this for other people who hadn't made it up yet. Especially considering how mega this rarity is (it could potentially draw birders from out-of-state), let's play it safe and give the bird its space. Chances are we all have high powered scopes and can see quite well from the highway, and even if you don't have a great scope, there will most likely be someone there who does when you go to look. And if you think this bird is undisturbed by our encroachments, it's not; it's probably just too focused on surviving another winter night at 9,000 feet at the moment. Bother it enough, though, and it will leave
--
Cheers,
Dan Maynard
Denver, CO
Denver, CO
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5fcbad15-4a15-de2a-07c3-1addf9afb9a2%40centurytel.net.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Cheers,
Dan Maynard
Denver, CO
Denver, CO
Gregg Goodrich
Dec 20, 2016, 7:20:46 PM12/20/16
to Colorado Birds
Yes, the view from the parking lot was good with a scope. There is no way the bird can forage on the river with folks on the banks of the river. Steves map and drawing are good guide lines. Hopefully many more Birders will get to see it.
Gregg Goodrich
Highlands Ranch
Bill Maynard
Dec 20, 2016, 7:46:19 PM12/20/16
to dnel...@centurytel.net, cob...@googlegroups.com
Duane and COBirders,
With today's high pixel cameras or by digiscoping, you can take a photo of a shorebird from a respectable distance and severely crop the image to show just the face if you want to. On the 19th, no one, IMO, in the group of 12 or more birders (all of us with cameras) approached the PUSA too closely, in fact the bird walked towards us on its own on more than one occasion. No one then, or nobody I bird with, would want to be responsible for a 1st state record bird to fly off because of their need for the year's best photo, especially since it was foraging in the narrow Blue River where it was always fairly close. Also, in Colorado, birders seem to be interested in knowing why it is here, what it is eating, how long will it stay, what age is it (1st year) more than just adding a tick to a life list. One interesting fact I did not know but found out when I got home is Purple Sandpiper, the chunkiest shorebird, eats both night and day and this one never stopped foraging in the 30 minutes I watched it.
Here is the same photo of the bird I severely cropped and posted just the head and bill of earlier to see if someone, thanks Dave Leatherman, might have insight into the food in the shallows of Blue River where the bird was foraging the day I was there.
Respectfully,
Bill Maynard
Colorado Springs, CO
With today's high pixel cameras or by digiscoping, you can take a photo of a shorebird from a respectable distance and severely crop the image to show just the face if you want to. On the 19th, no one, IMO, in the group of 12 or more birders (all of us with cameras) approached the PUSA too closely, in fact the bird walked towards us on its own on more than one occasion. No one then, or nobody I bird with, would want to be responsible for a 1st state record bird to fly off because of their need for the year's best photo, especially since it was foraging in the narrow Blue River where it was always fairly close. Also, in Colorado, birders seem to be interested in knowing why it is here, what it is eating, how long will it stay, what age is it (1st year) more than just adding a tick to a life list. One interesting fact I did not know but found out when I got home is Purple Sandpiper, the chunkiest shorebird, eats both night and day and this one never stopped foraging in the 30 minutes I watched it.
Here is the same photo of the bird I severely cropped and posted just the head and bill of earlier to see if someone, thanks Dave Leatherman, might have insight into the food in the shallows of Blue River where the bird was foraging the day I was there.
Respectfully,
Bill Maynard
Colorado Springs, CO
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
linda hodges
Dec 20, 2016, 7:49:24 PM12/20/16
to Daniel Maynard, Duane Nelson, CoBirds
Dan,
Thank you for explaining the the bird most likely is, indeed, bothered by us birders. I was quite surprised at how close people (myself included) could get to the bird without seemingly bothering it.
I appreciate the education.
Linda Hodges
Colorado Springs
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CAN0ycWh%2BNP9OavQ9EgTbndMYaTUfzM9bGqbqV0hRuQ4d-VokLw%40mail.gmail.com.
Connie Kogler
Dec 20, 2016, 8:03:12 PM12/20/16
to CoBirds
I walked down the hill and stayed on the north end of the birders lined up. Great views! When I arrived the Sandpiper was on the south side of the creek. I watched it swim across the creek toward everyone and continue with it’s foraging, coming closer and closer to the shore and line of birders. I would estimate people were 75-100 feet away from the creek and shoreline. Nothing whatsoever in this birds behavior indicated it was disturbed by the viewers.
To intimate that regardless of where people were the bird was stressed - is just not fair. Can people push and cause the bird to flush? Sure, but no one did anything of the sort while I was there.
Great bird and great share! Thanks All.
Gwen Moore
Dec 21, 2016, 9:06:08 AM12/21/16
to dnel...@centurytel.net, cob...@googlegroups.com
I so agree with Duane. Painful to watch people getting within 5 or 6ft of the bird. Come on, people, have some respect for the bird!
Surely 10 or 15ft is close enough! We remember the woodcocks being flushed by people who want to get just a little closer. Back off!
Why is the bird unbothered? Perhaps it has never encountered people before, having been hatched on the far tundra. Nevertheless, what profits the bird in becoming accustomed to our species? Not every human will be friendly towards the bird. I fervently hope that no person, coyote or bird of prey is so unrecognizable that it can kill this bird!
Please don't approach this bird or any bird so closely! Yeah, let the chickadees come to your hand, or the pygmy nuthatches feed all around your feet. Have a little reverence for wild bird. Please!
Gwen Moore
Sent from my iPhone
Surely 10 or 15ft is close enough! We remember the woodcocks being flushed by people who want to get just a little closer. Back off!
Why is the bird unbothered? Perhaps it has never encountered people before, having been hatched on the far tundra. Nevertheless, what profits the bird in becoming accustomed to our species? Not every human will be friendly towards the bird. I fervently hope that no person, coyote or bird of prey is so unrecognizable that it can kill this bird!
Please don't approach this bird or any bird so closely! Yeah, let the chickadees come to your hand, or the pygmy nuthatches feed all around your feet. Have a little reverence for wild bird. Please!
Gwen Moore
Sent from my iPhone
> --
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
Kay Niyo
Dec 21, 2016, 11:49:58 AM12/21/16
to gwensmi...@gmail.com, dnel...@centurytel.net, cob...@googlegroups.com
I agree totally with gwen and duane. Have these people not ever read the ABA birding ethics? Such behavior is not that of an ethical birder who thinks only of a stressed, lost bird's well being. Stay away if they can't bird like a real and ethical birder.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/97282010-C71B-41DC-9212-3A202087C2A9%40gmail.com.
Norm Lewis
Dec 21, 2016, 1:11:08 PM12/21/16
to k...@kayniyo.com, gwensmi...@gmail.com, dnel...@centurytel.net, cob...@googlegroups.com
I think all of the panic over disturbing this bird is probably a little overly dramatic? I was up there yesterday, and everyone was staying in the previously created viewing area (about 50-60 feet from the bird). My only previous experience with purple sandpiper was at Cape May in January, where I repeatedly encountered them on rock jetties while scanning for seaducks, pelagics, etc. I walked up on them a number of times- gray birds on gray rocks, and therefore hard to see, so my encounters were mostly by accident and not by stealth. In every case the birds seemed unconcerned with my presence and went about their business without paying much attention to me. I was often within a few feet of them. Our east coast birders (Tony?) cold probably comment more knowledgeably on this than I.
I think we all recognize the important of not disturbing birds in general and "staked out rarities" in particular, but this bird has been hanging out and feeding in the same area, under circumstances which must seem entirely natural to it (habitat and temperatures, if not geographic location!), for several days while literally dozens (hundreds?) of folks observed.it. While I was there it foraged and fed and seemingly paid no attention to the observers. If you see someone approaching a bird like this to within five feet, that is the time to speak up. If you have not observed such behavior, you might not want to jump to conclusions as to what other birders are doing.
In my one visit to the site, everyone was courteous to both the bird and other birders, and no one approached closer than what I would consider an appropriate distance. Just my two cents. We have a great bird here and we should collectively enjoy the bird as long as it remains without having to lecture one another on how to observe it.
I would encourage the Moderator to discontinue this thread before we have a Birding Civil War over it.
Norm Lewis
Lakewood, CO
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5uuikvhusri18w0m11cqayug.1482338700569%40email.android.com.
David Suddjian
Dec 21, 2016, 1:38:10 PM12/21/16
to Colorado Birds
Thank you Norm and to all who have chimed in on this birding ethics topic. The plea for appropriate birder behavior and common sense has been well and clearly made. Thank you for keeping things polite and for avoiding any personal attacks. Unless there is some new substance to add to the discussion, please refrain from further posts to CoBirds on the ethics aspect. Reports about the bird's continuing presence, behavior, etc are, of course, very welcome.
David Suddjian
CoBirds list moderator
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
> To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5fcbad15-4a15-de2a-07c3-1addf9afb9a2%40centurytel.net.
> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/97282010-C71B-41DC-9212-3A202087C2A9%40gmail.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to cob...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5uuikvhusri18w0m11cqayug.1482338700569%40email.android.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to cobirds+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/159229459de-39b4-1569b%40webprd-a102.mail.aol.com.
John Maynard
Dec 21, 2016, 1:54:29 PM12/21/16
to migr...@aol.com, k...@kayniyo.com, gwensmi...@gmail.com, dnel...@centurytel.net, cob...@googlegroups.com
Well said! I agree 100%
John Maynard
John Maynard
Manitou Springs, CO
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/159229459de-39b4-1569b%40webprd-a102.mail.aol.com.
Mark R
Dec 21, 2016, 3:56:38 PM12/21/16
to k...@kayniyo.com, gwensmi...@gmail.com, dnel...@centurytel.net, cob...@googlegroups.com
I think we have all encountered birders who have crossed the line - those that have no concern for anyone but themselves. I doubt highly that many of those birders are paying much attention to these posts (we can hope I guess).
The bigger issue is educating the rest of us who know the ethics and think we are far enough away, but might not be. For these situations I greatly appreciate a kind word from experts like Duane who can "guide" and "inform" - especially in the moment so I can adjust accordingly.
In the end I trust as a birding community most of us will do the right thing and if one of your fellow birders suggests you might be encroaching too much try to remember it's not because they are trying to ruin your experience - They are trying to make sure that the experience is available for all in the future (especially the future of the bird). We can all find more enjoyment with a little more humility and openness.
Go birders!
Mark Minner-Lee
Broomfield, CO
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/5uuikvhusri18w0m11cqayug.1482338700569%40email.android.com.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages